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1985 - 2005 - with all the back-catalogue of albums available now at www.artisan-harmony.com
Original songs, glorious harmonies and a dash of humour. The phenomenon that was Artisan first hit the unsuspecting British public in 1985. They rapidly did the rounds, being invited to play at almost every major festival and folk club in the UK. In 1989, the pressure of performing work was so great that they kicked their day jobs in the head and took to the road as full-time musos and sang for their supper until November 2005, playing in the UK and in Belgium and Germany, too. In 1994 they made their first foray across the Atlantic which led to regular tours and festivals such as Winnipeg, Vancouver, Owen Sound Summerfolk, Bethlehem Musikfest and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. They toured Australia, via Hong Kong in Spring 2000. Their final US and Canadian tour was summer of 2005 and their final ever concert was 20th November 2005 in the UK - recorded for posterityand released on DVD in both European and North American formats.
Their eleven CDs have been given airplay all over the world and copies are still available, as is their Farewell Concert DVD, direct from Artisan's website at www.artisan-harmony.com or by telephoning (UK) 01484 606230. (From outside the UK dial +44 1484 606230)
So, what made Artisan so different from any other a cappella outfit? Personality. On stage pizazz! Heart and Soul and some very good songs. Artisan sang about real people and real issues - 'us' songs instead of 'me' songs. Emotions include scepticism, hope, wonder, anger, love, fear, longing, and a lot of — LOT OF — humour!
Brian Bedford was Artisan's song writer. You'll hear his songs sung by others too, notably "Breathing Space," covered by Black Voices and "What's the Use of Wings" which has been recorded by artists as diverse as Vin Garbutt, the John Wright Band and The Philadelphia Gay Men's Choir. Brian's song writing has been described as "witty and apposite," and "finely crafted," but his real success lies in the broad appeal of the words and the accessibility of the tunes. He's a song writer of the people in no uncertain terms.
And what about the singing? Artisan's three voices, Hilary Spencer, Jacey Bedford and Brian Bedford, have three very different but complimentary sounds.
Artisan received many accolades over the years including two CARAs (Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards)—in fact they were nominated four times in four consecutive years and won twice, once for Best Song and the other for Best CD—and awards from the British Arts Council and Yorkshire Arts, for whom they were Musicians in Residence each consecutive year from 1990 to 2005.
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